Industrial activities, and more specifically those of Energy Recovery Units (UVE), produce fumes containing various pollutants: nitrogen oxides (NOx), acid gases (SO₂, HCl), heavy metals and toxic organic compounds. In addition to their impact on air quality, these emissions pose serious risks to public health and the environment.
To meet these challenges, strict regulations, such as the European Union’s Industrial Emissions Directive (IED), impose rigorous emission thresholds. In this context, support from an expert like Servithen enables manufacturers to comply with these standards while optimizing their energy and environmental performance.
To understand how to meet these challenges, let’s take a closer look at the technologies to be used, depending on the processes present in your facilities.
Dry treatment: a high-performance, long-lasting solution
The principle of dry treatment
Dry treatment relies on the injection of reagents, such as sodium bicarbonate or lime, directly into industrial fumes. Once injected, these reagents react chemically with the acid gases present, such as sulfur dioxide (SO₂) or hydrochloric acid (HCl). This chemical reaction leads to the formation of solid salts (such as calcium sulfate or sodium chloride), which are harmless to the environment.
These solid reaction particles are then captured by a bag filter, which acts as an effective barrier against particulate emissions. At the same time, a nitrogen oxide reduction system (DeNOx) can be added to treat NOx, reducing overall emissions.
The main advantages of this solution include :
- Simple implementation: Dry processing requires no complex infrastructure, making it easy to install on a variety of industrial sites.
- Reduced personnel costs: Dry processing operations are generally automated, minimizing the need for manpower.
- Reduced investment : Compared with other industrial depolution technologies, the initial cost is lower.
Servithen’s expertise in dry processing
Our teams design and implement dry treatment systems tailored to the specific requirements of each industrial site.
By selecting the most effective reagents and optimizing contact reactors, we guarantee pollution control that complies with regulatory standards, while ensuring rigorous maintenance of bag filters.
This approach ensures both effective and long-lasting pollution control.
Activated carbon: a barrier against toxic pollutants
The principle of activated carbon adsorption
Activated carbon is a porous material, usually made from vegetable charcoal or coconut, known for its ability to capture and adsorb toxic substances. When injected into industrial fumes, activated carbon interacts with the pollutants present, such as dioxins, furans and heavy metals like mercury.
The adsorption principle is based on the physical and chemical attraction of pollutant molecules to the surface of activated carbon pores. When injected into industrial flue gas ducts or washing towers, activated carbon is uniformly distributed to maximize contact with pollutants. These toxic substances are captured by adsorption on the porous surface of the activated carbon.
These pollutants are then trapped in bag filters, which prevent them from being dispersed into the atmosphere. This technology is particularly effective for treating emissions from high-temperature industrial processes, where pollutant concentrations are high.
Servithen’s expertise for optimal treatment
Thanks to our 38 years’ experience in environmental depollution processes, we can offer optimum solutions to flue gas treatment problems, combining technical efficiency and OPEX control.
Each project is approached on a customized basis, taking into account the specific characteristics of industrial fumes, such as their chemical composition and temperature. The objective remains the optimal capture of toxic pollutants such as dioxins, furans and heavy metals.
NOx reduction: SCR and SNCR technologies
Principles of SCR and SNCR processes
Reducing NOx emissions is a major challenge for many industries subject to strict environmental regulations. Available technologies offer effective solutions for meeting these requirements, while optimizing plant performance..
- SNCR (Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction): This process consists of injecting ammonia or urea directly into the furnaces, where high temperatures (generally between 850 and 1,100°C) promote a chemical reaction transforming NOx into nitrogen and water. In addition to its low cost, this method has the advantage of not requiring a catalyst, which simplifies installation and maintenance. However, its efficiency is somewhat more limited than that of SCR, making it less suitable for applications where very low emission levels are required.
- SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction): This technology uses a catalyst to maximize NOx reduction. Gases pass through the catalyst after injection of a reducing solution, such as ammonia or urea, achieving reduction efficiencies of up to 90%. Although more expensive, this solution is ideal for industries subject to stringent regulations. In addition to its high performance, it offers scalable flexibility thanks to the possibility of adding catalytic modules to treat other pollutants such as dioxins and furans.
Servithen’s support for NOx reduction
Our team mobilizes its expertise in neutralization processes to provide solutions tailored to the design, manufacture and installation of SNCR and SCR DeNOx systems. By balancing technical performance with CAPEX and OPEX control, we guarantee optimized installations that comply with environmental standards.
What are the benefits of a global industrial clean-up strategy?
Manufacturers are facing growing pollution control needs, whether to comply with increasingly stringent environmental regulations, or to reduce their carbon footprint in order to improve their brand image.
A comprehensive and effective pollution control strategy is essential to ensure regulatory compliance, optimize operating and investment costs, and save time in system installation and maintenance thanks to simplified and tailored solutions.
As a strategic partner, Servithen provides tailor-made solutions that balance technical performance with CAPEX and OPEX control, and meet current and future industrial needs.
